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Class 




Book jrS.^ 






Bulletin of 

IOWA STATE COLLEGE 

OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS 



Vol. XII 



August 1, 1913 



No. 9 



I Engineering Education _^^ 

AT THE ^^ / 

Iowa State College 




I 



Ames, Iowa 

Published Semi-Monthly by the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Me- 
chanic Arts. Entered as Second-class Matter, October 26, 1905, at the 
Post Office at Ames, Iowa, under the Act of Congress of July 16, 1904 




D« of D. 
MAY 31 1917 



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To the Reader: 

For the benefit of the many people interested we are send- 
ing out this little circular giving a few data concerning the 
Engineering Division of the Iowa State College of Agriculture 
and Mechanic Arts. 

Upon request we will send, free of charge, the complete 
college catalog. To all young men who are considering the 
possibility of entering^ an engineering course, we will forward 
without expense a copy of the Directory of Engineering Grad- 
uates of Iowa State College, which shows the records of our 
engineering alumni, including even a compilation of statistics 
of incomes, and gives the information necessary to enable 
young men and their parents to tell the exact nature of the. 
work of engineers in the various lines, and the remuneration 
therefor. 

COURSES OF STUDY. 

In accordance with the national and state laws establishing 
the college, the regular instruction work of the Division of 
Engineering is apportioned among seven departments, viz. : 
The Department of Mechanical Engineering. 
The Department of Civil Engineering-. 
The Department of Electrical Engineering. 
The Department of Physics and Illuminating Engineer- 
ing. 

The Department of Mining Engineering, Ceramics and 

Chemical Engineering. 
The Department of Agricultural Engineering. 
The Department of Structure Design. 

Through these Departments the College offers systematic 
four and five year courses in Mechanical Engineering, Civil En- 



ilineering, Electrical Engineeriiig, Mining Engineering, Ceram- 
ics, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural E)igi)ieering, and Struc- 
ture Design. 

CERAMIC ENGINEERING 

The department of Ceramics was established by the Legis- 
lature in 1906. The course is similar to the courses offered at 
the Ohio State University, and at Eutgers College, New Jer- 
sey. The student is thoroughly grounded in chemistry, phys- 
ics, and geology, and is given sufficient work in mechanical 
and electrical engineering to fit him to accept positions of 
responsibility in the clay and cement industries. 

Iowa has great undeveloped resources in these lines which 
offer an inviting and profitable field for professional work. 
We already have more calls for graduates to take remunerative 
positions in the cement and clay industries than we can pos- 
sibly supply. The work in ceramics leads to opportunities 
not only for securing salaried positions, but also for the ulti- 
mate management and ownership of important manufactur- 
ing institutions. 

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 

The chemical facilities required for ceramics instruction and 
investigation and for the chemical side of the Engineering Ex- 
periment Station work have made it possible to offer a good 
course in chemical engineering at small additional expense. 

Four years ago a special course in industrial chemistry was 
offered to junior and senior students. There appears to be a 
real demand for the work. This year a course in chemical 
engineering has been revised carefully and definitely outlined 
for the full four years. 

The graduate in chemical engineering is eligible to positions 
as chemist and foreman in various manufacturing plants, es- 
pecially soaps, paint, varnish, oil refining, paper, starch, glu- 
cose, sugar, cement, heavy chemicals and coal tar products. 




Testing Motors and Generators — Section of Dynamo Laboratory 




Studying Commercial Processes — Chemical Engineering 



The increasing industrial activity in Iowa is already creating 
a large demand for chemically trained engineers. 

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 

The course in agricultural engineering was established in 
1909 and provides training in those branches of engineering 
related to agriculture. It is designed to fit graduates for such 
work as managing and superintending farms where drainage, 
irrigation, and the use of agricultural machinery are large 
factors, for professional work in drainage and highway engin- 
eering, and for positions in the farm machinery industry re- 
'juiring mechanical skill and a knowledge of the science of 
agriculture. 

STRUCTURE DESIGN 

The course in structure design has been established in re- 
sponse to a demand for improvement in the design and con- 
struction of homes, of farm structures, and of factory buildings. 
It gives a thorough groundwork in mathematics and applied me- 
chanics, and includes such studies as strength of materials, 
bridge, mill, and tall office building construction, reinforced con- 
crete, etc. The work will apply the principles of design to the 
work in structural engineering. It is intended especially to qual- 
ify engineers for practice in the relatively small towns of Iowa, 
especially along the lines of design and construction of homes, 
of farm structures, and of structures for the industries. 

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING 

With the completion of the new transportation building 
there will be offered special work along the line of transpor- 
tation engineering. Iowa as an agricultural state must haul 
a large percentage of her raw product over the country roads 
to reach a market place. Transportation engineering deals 
with the vehicles of locomotion, from the horse-drawn to the 
liighest class of power-driven conveying machinery. This line 




Testing Clay Products — Ceramics Engineering 



—10— 

of work will be special, taken in connection with regular 
courses. 

AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING 

The new transportation building will also provide facilities 
for the testing of auto-trucks and high speed automobiles. 
Special work will be offered in this important and popular line 
of work. 

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING 

The reorganization and strengthening of the Iowa Highway 
Commission by the last Legislature put highway engineering 
on a very definite basis in Iowa. There was immediately cre- 
ated a demand for trained highway engineers which the state 
could not meet. A serious handicap will be experienced for 
several years until men with this training can be generally 
secured for this class of work. 

In response to the demand, Iowa State College is this year 
putting in special work in highway engineering, and will se- 
cure the services of an educator qualified to direct this impor- 
tant instruction. The location of the Highway Commission at 
the college affords facilities for instruction not possessed by 
other institutions. 

ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION 

The Engineering Experiment Station was established at 
Iowa State College by the Legislature in 1904. Since that time 
it has carried on a large amount of investigational work, and 
has published many bulletins of value to the people of the 
state. All of this material is available to the engineering stu- 
dents at Ames, and affords them access to first-hand informa- 
tion for the solution of many of the engineering problems, 
which have confronted practicing engineers. 




Making a Test of a Gasoline Engine 




Agricultural Engineers Testing Steam Tractor 



EXGI NEE RING EX TENSION 
During the past year the Iowa Manufacturers' Association 
requested the college to establish engineering extension work, 
including correspondence study work, for the purpose of ex- 
tending the same kind of assistance to those who are employed 
m the mechanical industries that is now enjoyed by those who 
are engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

The last General Assembly provided an appropriation for 
this work at Ames. The department hopes to articulate closely 
Avith the Engineering Division at Ames on the one hand, 
through the two year course, and with the vocational high 
schools authorized by the recent Legislature, on the other, by 
means of trade school extension courses. 

TWO-YEAR VOCATIONAL WORK ALONG ENGINEER- 
ING LINES 

The two year course in vocational work along engineering 
lines is designed to meet the needs of young men who have 
not ha.d the time nor the opportunity to prepare themselves to 
meet the entrance reciuirements of the regular engineering 
courses. Elementary mathematics, including shop and busi- 
ness arithmetic, elementary algebra and geometry, free-hand 
and mechanical drawing, and shop work, continue through the 
two years. The fundamental principles of chemistry and phys- 
ics are presented t,he first year, while practical exercises in 
surveying receive attention during the second. Practical Avork 
on cement products, road making, poAA^er plants and applica- 
tions of electricity is giA^en through the two years, in order 
to acquaint the student Avit.h some of the fundamectal proc- 
esses of the industries. Cultural AA^ork is not neglected, as 
tAvo semesters of Avork in English or literature and one semes- 
ter each in economics and citizenship are required. 

A certificate Avill be given to those who complete the course 
satisfactorilv. 



—15— 

REQURIEMENTS FOR ENTRANCE 

Admission to the four and five year engineering courses re- 
quires either graduation from an accredited high school, or 
the presentation of sufficient credits from some preparatory 
school of good standing, or examinations in the subjects re- 
quired. Students who come from liberal arts colleges receive 
credit for such required work already taken as is parallel in 
the two schools. 

A student desiring to enter the two year course must be at 
least seventeen years of age, and must present a certificate 
signed by the county or high school superintendent showing 
that he has satisfactorily completed the eighth grade of the 
public schools. If the applicant has attended high school, this 
certificate must also give his complete high school or academic 
record, and must be signed by the superintendent or principal. 

High school graduates who are able to meet the entrance re- 
quirements of the regular engineering courses, or students 
who are able to present ISi/o units of acceptable high school or 
academic work, are not eligible to the two year course. 

All applications for admission to the college should be ad- 
dressed to the Registrar, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, who 
will furnish proper blanks. 

BUILDINGS 

Engineering Hall is a fireproof building in which most of the 
engineering departments have offices, recitation and lecture 
rooms, laboratories and tjie engineering museum. It is of Bed- 
ford stone, has plate glass windows, and modem conveniences 
and furnishings throughout. This building, costing $220,000, 
is the best engineering building west of the Mississippi river. 

Engineering Annex was completed in the fall of 1909 at a 
total cost of $41,000. It is a two story fireproof building, 
50 X 208 feet. The first story is devoted to the use of the 
Electrical Engineering Department, the Mining Engineering 
Department, and the Surveying Department. In it are located 




Pattern Shop 




The Foundry 



—18— 

the dynamo engineering laboratory, assaying and clay work- 
ing rooms for the Mining Engineering Department, and instru- 
ment room and class room for the Surveying Department. The 
second story contains additional rooms for the Mining Engin- 
eering Department, the remainder being given up to drafting 
rooms and class rooms for the Electrical, Civil, and Mechanical 
Engineering Departments. A third story is being held in re- 
serve to provide additional accommodations as the constant 
growth of the Division demands. 

Ceramics Building was built in the fall of 1909 with a di- 
rect legislative appropriation of $15,000 for this purpose. It 
is a three story reproof building 70x50 feet, containing clay 
working rooms, kiln rooms, and other adequate accommoda- 
tions for the ceramics work. This building is also the home 
of the Chemical Engineering Department, and the chemical 
section of the Engineering Experiment Station. 

Structural and Hydraulic Laboratory is a three story stone 
and brick building which has been entirely remodeled and 
rebuilt into a modern laboratory building, fireproof except for 
the roof. The hydraulic laboratory occupies a basement wing 
lined with enameled brick, and also the floor above it. There 
are tAvo large structural laboratory rooms, one large cement 
laboratory room, four computing and research rooms, five in- 
strument rooms, and offices. The Engineering Experiment 
Station and the structural testing laboratories are also located 
in this building. 

Agricultural Engineering Hall contains offices, recitation 
rooms and shops of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, 
and also offices and recitation rooms for the two year work 
in Botany and Horticulture. It is a four story building, the 
lower stories of stone and the upper of brick. 

Agricultural Engineering Annex is a four story, fireproof 
building, built of steel and pressed brick, costing, when equip- 
ped, about $70,000. It accommodates the workshops, tool 
rooms, blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, drafting rooms, read- 




Machine Shop 





Section of Cement Testing Laboratory 



—20— 

hig room, rooms for the study and exhibition of various farm 
implements, offices and class rooms, bulletin rooms, and photo- 
graphic department. 

Foundry biiilding is one story, 38x78 feet, is built of brick, 
and contains the equipment for instruction in foundry prac- 
tice. The roof trusses are of steel and are calculated to carry 
traveling cranes for transferring heavy castings and forgings.. 

Forge Shop was constructed in 1906. It is a one story brick 
building, 38 x 78 feet, with a store room at one side in addition. 
It contains equipment for instruction in forge shop practice. 
The roof trusses are of steel and the roof is of slate. 

Fatter n Shop. This is a one story brick building 38x120 
feet, devoted to the work of instruction in bench work, wood 
turning, and pattern work. A fireproof room is provided for 
the storage of patterns. 

Locomotive Lahoratorij. For the temporary protection of 
the locomotives donated to the Department of Mechanical 
Engineering by the Chicago & Northwestern railway and by 
the estate of S. H. Mallory, a corrugated iron structure has 
been provided. 

Machine Shop is an entirely new building, 150x45 feet. It 
is i^ractically two stories high, and, besides a large machine 
shop, surrounded by a gallery, contains laboratory, locker 
room, office, class room, and tool room. This building is one 
of the best college engineering shops in the country. 

Mechanical Lahoratorij is now being erected and will be ready 
for work in the fall of 1913. This building, with equipment, 
will cost $95,000, is constructed entirely of brick, and consists 
of a main building 55x100 feet, a wing 55x45 feet, w4th a bal- 
cony 15 feet wide. The front of the building is full two story, 
the rear and wing one story and balcony. All the experimen- 
tal work of the Mechanical Engineering Department will be 
carried on this building. 



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A Corner of the Materials Testing Laboratory 




Civil Engineers Making Calculations from Field Surveys 



—22— 

Transportation Building. This building, now in process of 
construction, consists of two wings, one 50x100 feet, to be 
used for class rooms, drawing rooms, and laboratories in con- 
nection with the work in railway engineering, highway engin- 
eering, automobile engineering and transportation engineer- 
ing, and one 50 x 120 feet to be used for a locomotive testing 
laboratory. Equipment will be installed to test any locomotive 
now built. The service of this laboratory will be available to 
any railroad that cares to take advantage of its opportunities. 
It will be the most modern plant of its kind, and will serve 
a large field as it is the most western plant in the United States. 
There are only six other plants in the world, and but one of 
them is as large as the one under construction. Provision is 
also made for an automobile testing plant which will be used 
in connection with courses in automobile engineering. This 
plant can be used to test any truck or high speed automobile 
now made. The cost of this building, completely equipped, 
will be about $100,000. 

EQUIPMENT 

The equipment of the Engineering Division is modern and 
extremely complete. This is being constantly added to and 
kept up to date in every respect. The valuation of the build- 
ings and equipment of the Engineering Division is listed on 
the college records at over $600,000. 

ENGINEERING FACULTY 

The engineering faculty numbers over 100 members, with 45 
in the engineering courses. This includes many practicing 
engineers of high repute and technical educators of the high- 
est grade. The students are divided into small sections so that 
each may receive individual attention each day from his in- 
structors. This means much for the success which Ames is 
attaining in the training of successful engineers. 



—34— 
VACATION WORK 

Practically all of the engineering students obtain remuner- 
ative and practical work in engineering lines during the sum- 
mer vacations. The authorities of the Division of Engineer- 
ing are in close touch with the employers of technical men, not 
only in Iowa but in all parts of the United States, and are thus 
able to place young men who wish summer employment. Dur- 
ing the present summer the demand for such men has far ex- 
ceeded the supply. 

FEES AND EXPENSES 

To residents of Iowa tuition is free ; to nonresidents it 
is $50 a year. A limited number of scholarships are offered 
to nonresidents. Full information may be obtained upon re- 
quest. The incidental fee is $9 a semester. Laboratory fees 
are limited to the actual cost of materials used and of mimeo- 
graph lecture notes. Books, drawing instruments, etc., cost 
from $5 to $15 a semester. Board and room range from $160 
to $240, the average being about $200 for the school year. For 
residents of Iowa the total essential expense, not including 
traveling and clothing, is from $225 to $300. 

OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF SUPPORT 

There are many opportunities at Ames for the student to 
secure work to help defray expenses. The Y. M. C. A. main- 
tains an employment bureau which is of great assistance to 
men who want employment. The college authorities also do 
everything in their power to help students in this way. 

AMES ENGINEERS ARE SUCCESSFUL 

Ames engineers have always been active in the most respon- 
sible connection with many of the world's greatest engineer- 
ing undertakings. For example : 

"Willis Whited, '79, is bridge engineer for the state of Penn- 
sylvania ; M. B. Williams, '05, is irrigation engineer for the 




Coal Handling Plant, South Amboy, N. J., Consisting of Two Car Dumpers, 

Docks and Track System. Scott W. Linn, an 1 894 Engineering 

Graduate of Iowa State College, Engineer in Charge 




Sea Extension Florida East Coast Railway. Joseph C. Meredith, an 1878 Engineering 
Graduate of Iowa State College, Chief Constructing Engineer 



United States government in charge of the humid regions ; 
Geo. M. Wills, '08, is manager of the Goldfield district of the 
Nevada-California Power Company ; A. M. Blodgett, '76, built 
the recently completed one and one-half million dollar Galves- 
ton causeway ; Geo. W. Catt, '82, was president of the largest 
dredging company in the country and constructed the four 
inillion dollar harbor at Manila, P. I. ; Geo. L. Christy, '91, is 
vice president and chief engineer of Lewinson & Co., construct- 
ors of large office buildings in New York city ; W. J. Eck, '95, 
is electrical engineer for the Southern Railway ; William 
Francis, '07, is engineer in charge of the $1,800,000 sewer 
f.ystem of Havana, Cuba ; W. C. Armstrong, '81, constructed 
the famous Boone viaduct on the C. & N. W. Ry., in 1890 and 
recently completed the $20,000,000 passenger terminals of the 
C. & N. W. Ry., in Chicago ; E. E. Lee, '02, is in charge of the 
(;]ectrical and mechanical installations for the Panama Canal. 

Then Elwood Mead, '83, a world-wide authority on irrigation 
raid water power engineering, formerly chief of irrigation and 
drainage investigations for the United States government, is 
now civil and irrigation engineer for the State Rivers and 
Water Supply Commission, Melbourne, Australia. J. C Mere- 
dith, '78, conceived and built the Keys Extension of the Flori- 
da East Coast Ry., a series of reinforced concrete arches 
l)uilt across treacherous arms of the sea, once called an im- 
possible undertaking. 

The enumeration of the notable engineering construction 
works being conducted by Ames engineers might go on in- 
definitely. There are now nearly 1,300 of these men scattered 
over the entire United States and in many foreign countries, 
and wherever they go it is recognized that there is no better 
engineering training than is given at Ames. 

Investigation of the salaries earned by Iowa State College 
engineering graduates shows that the average graduate earns 



—30— 

$1,000 per year within one year, $3,000 within 15 years, and 
$5,000 per year within 28 years. The more successful ones 
earn from $5,000 to $10,000 per year within a comparatively 
few years after graduation. 

THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY 

The city of Ames, with a population of over five tjiousand, 
exclusive of the student body, is a clean town. An expert on 
American colleges and college life recently said, in substance : 
"You have here in Ames few of the social and moral condi- 
tions that in many other college towns and cities create serious 
and menacing problems." Ames is clean of saloons. It has 
never had a saloon in its borders. The charter of the college 
prohibits them. It is clean of gambling houses. These the 
state law prohibits ; and the state law is enforced. Ames, 
neither as a municipality nor as a college community offers 
any encouragement to either organized or individual wrong 
doing. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

If you are interested in the Division of Engineering of the 
Iowa State College, we would be glad to hear from you and to 
assist you in every way in obtaining full information. For 
more complete information, address Dean A. Marston, Iowa 
State College, Ames, Iowa. 



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